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ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO
Bantay Kalikasan volunteers get a better view of the Polillo Group of Islands where they con-
duct regular patrolling and biodiversity monitoring of the declared Local Conservation Areas
(LCAs), one of the remaining strongholds for Polillos important and unique flora and fauna.
(PIBCFI/Virtito Natural).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the following institutions for providing support for the devel-
opment of this case study: Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI),
Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI), Global Environment Facility-
Small Grants Project-United Nations Development Programme, North of England Zoological
Society (Chester Zoo), DENR-PAWB National, Regional and CENRO Offices, Municipal and Ba-
rangay Local Government Units of Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan and Jomalig, Sa-
mahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo (SABAKAP), Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB),
Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA), ISLA Berde, Patnanugan Bantay Kalikasan,
and Jomalig Bantay Kalikasan Association (JOBAKA).
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APRIL 2013
Prepared by the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI) for
the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) under the Up-Scaling ForestRestoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project.
DISCLAIMER
This publication is made possible through the generous support of the American
People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The
contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the case study writerss and
PIBCFI, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States
SCALING-UP LOCAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
STORIES FROM POLILLO ISLANDS
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MESSAGE FROM
DENRIn this emerging era of climate change, environment and natural resources (ENR) around the
globe are threatened with destruction to an extent rarely seen in earths history. The mitigation
of the pernicious effects of climate change compels government, particularly us in the DENR,
to adapt an integrated approach to ENR planning and decision making.
Constructive engagement, international partnerships, and collaboration with the different
sectors of society are forged not only to brace up our limited resources, but more so to create
an enabling policy environment that would enhance institutional and regulatory capacities.
It is in this complicated and complex task of building partnerships with key stakeholders thatwe appreciate the role played by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE). A
catalyst for cooperation, the FPE blazes trails in efforts to promote and encourage international
and local cooperation among NGOs, business groups, and communities towards developing
good policies and effective programs on biodiversity and sustainable management.
The case studies presented in this publication bear testament to FPEs leading role in
facilitating collaborations for sustainable development. Without the foundations assistance and
effort to involve key stakeholders cooperation, appropriate assessments regarding the current
conditions and trends of eight key biodiversity areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao would
not have been made. Our success, hence, in establishing reliable bases for developing goalsand strategies for future biodiversity and sustainable management interventions in these areas
can only be ensured with support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
RAMON J. P. PAJEDENR Secretary
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MESSAGE FROMUSAIDThe realization of our shared vision of broad-based and inclusive growth is greatly
aided by enhancing environmental resilience and ensuring that the countrys bountiful
natural resources and life-giving ecosystems services are sustainably managed while
reducing the risk of disasters. The U.S. Government holds firm to its commitment to
help the Government of the Philippines to achieve this goal.
Expanding the network of environmental stakeholders and providing continued support
to local governments and communities on proper natural resource management are
crucial strategies to achieve this goal. With these in mind, our partnership with the
Government of the Philippines has yielded a large network of partners that engages
local communities and groups in biodiversity conservation and natural resource
management. We have helped empower our partners to be more involved in
decision-making leading to better management and protection of natural resources
that they depend on.
This publication captures the key strategies applied through the years that Up -scaling
Forest Restoration Project attempted to scale up in the last two years in eight key
forest areas of the country. Eight case studies feature committed forest guard
volunteers, lessons from science-based forest restoration efforts with indigenous
peoples, and partnership building among government, communities, and the private
sector to restore forest habitats and watersheds. This collection of stories is a
testament to the hard work of our partners, led by the Foundation for the Philippine
Environment, which collaboratively worked with local stakeholders to ensure that the
approaches employed, milestones achieved, and lessons learned from our forest
restoration efforts are carefully documented.
It is our hope that knowledge sharing through publications like this will become a
staple element in how we sustain our efforts in forest management. There is wisdom
from the grassroots, as we have valuably learned through our initiatives, which havesignificant impact at the national level. I invite you to read these stories and share
them with your network and other organizations working towards biodiversity
conservation and environmental resilience.
GLORIA D. STEELE
Mission Director, USAID/Philippines
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MESSAGE FROM
FPE
FPEs twenty-one years of working with partners to save forests and sustain life have borne fruit.
Eight (8) case studies documenting the progress and challenges in expanding forest
governance in key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are now available to the public.
The cases relate, among others, how our partner in Negros Occidental transformed a silent
subsistence community to active forest protectors; how planting native tree species revived
dying forests and earned income for farmers in Leyte; how synergistic partnerships among
various agencies accelerated watershed rehabilitation in Davao City; and how the concept of
social fencing in the provinces of Quezon and Laguna deepened the communities' collective
resolve and shared responsibility in guarding their forests for life.
These are testaments of progress in FPEs conservation support. But the mission of the
foundation is none more relevant than today, as scarcity of natural resources worsens hunger,
climate change brings collateral damage to conservation investments, and unbridled population
growth threatens the carrying capacity of our remaining forests. In almost all USAID-FPE
USAID-FPE Project sites, our partners continue to face the challenges of poverty, unsustainable
economic development, and fragmented or uncoordinated conservation initiatives.
Notably, this is the first time in many years that our long-time partners in conservation took the
initiative of assessing and documenting what strategies worked and what could still work tosustainably protect our forests in KBAs. This is a conscious attempt to create tools and
platforms for knowledge access and sharing.
All these interesting case studies constitute the second set of Kalikasan (Kaalamang Likas
Yaman) Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development series, one of FPE's regular
publications. The first set describes the results of resource and socio-economic assessments in
selected KBAs. This second set combines best practices and lessons learned in forest
restoration efforts under the USAID-FPE Up-Scaling Project. All Kalikasan BCSD series are
packed with knowledge from projects and field experiences. FPE does not stop at merely
making beautiful publications, but endeavors to translate knowledge into action towards
improving our work and contribution to BCSD.
Allow me to congratulate our project partners, local government units in project sites and
USAID for making the case studies of the Up-Scaling Project possible. We hope our readers
distill the lessons to guide future actions for more effective forest restoration and hunger
alleviation.
NESTOR R. CARBONERAChair and CEO
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MESSAGE FROMPIBCFIThe Polillo Group of Islands is one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the country. Literally
named to mean a beautiful Island with plenty of food, the Polillo archipelago supports a diverse
species of flora, fauna, and other natural resources. It is recognized as one of the globally
important conservation priority sites. It supports several unique and threatened species that need
urgent protection and conservation because of the continuing destruction of their habitats.
For almost a decade now, the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PIBCFI)
has been in the forefront in implementing biodiversity conservation projects in the
Polillos. Through the years, we are very much thankful for the support provided to us by various
institutions.
We are also grateful for the support provided by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), through the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) for our
project on Up-Scaling Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas. This initiative has provided us
with opportunity to showcase the feasibility of the habitat restoration while providing additional
income to participating communities.
Our appreciation also to the Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the
solidarity and support it extended in our quest to make a difference in conserving the amazing
biodiversity of Polillo Islands. More importantly, we would like to express our deepest
appreciation to local governments and communities in making all our conservation efforts feasible
and meaningful.
This case study is the culmination of almost a decade of experiences in working for biodiversity
conservation in Polillo archipelago and we are glad to share our simple stories.
NYMPHA P. SANTOSPresident
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KALIKASANThe BCSD
Knowledge Series of FPEKaalamang Likas Yamanor simply, KALIKASAN, is the publication series of the Foundation for the
Philippine Environment (FPE) on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (BCSD).
Kaalaman is the Filipino term for knowledge while Likas Yaman is the term for nature or natural
resources. Kaalamang Likas Yaman literally means knowledge of nature. As FPEs main thrust is
BCSD in key biodiversity areas of the Philippines, this series is essential in presenting and promoting
valuable theories, case studies, site assessments and best practices and other learning materials.
As Atty. Danny N. Valenzuela, FPE Chair and CEO (2010-2012), explains, That the work of theFoundation for the Philippine Environment on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development
has gone a long way in the past twenty years cannot be overemphasized. In fact, it has become
imperative for FPE to embark into an appropriate, meaningful and innovative knowledge
management systems in order to preserve and properly utilize the significant learnings out of its
various collaborations with partners in key biodiversity areas all over the country. As a major
repository of the knowledge base of FPE and its partners, KALIKASAN will serve as a series of
dynamic and enriching resource materials that will educate the readers, in particular those involved in
the environmental protection of key biodiversity areas, and equip them with both theoretical and
practical knowledge. Kaalamang Likas Yamanmay also refer to the richness (yaman)of natural or
intuitive knowledge (kaalamang likas). This is in recognition of the a priori knowledge of the people
of local communities in FPE areas of operation and concern, especially among the grassroots
communities and indigenous peoples, in environmental protection and conservation.
KALIKASAN seeks to serve as a comprehensive BCSD reference and research source while tapping
and augmenting the existing knowledge base of its partners, beneficiaries and communities. This is
the legacy of the current FPE leadership to the next generation of Filipino environmentalists who will
continue and further develop the current advocacies and endeavours of FPE and its partners.
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USAID-FPE PROJECTUp-Scaling Forest Restoration
Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas
For more than two decades, FPE has been at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and
sustainable development in the Philippines. FPE operates as a catalyst for cooperation, fund
facilitator, and grant maker in order to save species, conserve sites, and sustain communities.
Capitalizing on previous and existing forest restoration initiatives of its local site partners, FPE,
in partnership with USAID, implemented the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key
Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project from 2011 to 2013. This project seeks to address the
decline of the Philippine forests by strengthening the protection of approximately 170,000
hectares of forest habitats and reforesting a total of 480 hectares within 8 sites in the
bioregions of Cebu, Negros, Leyte (Eastern Visayas), Luzon and Mindanao. The project has
also instituted mechanisms to sustain conservation efforts and continuously affect a macro-
level of consciousness among stakeholders.
FPE supports its partners on sites in drawing lessons from projects and sharing results of
research and experiences. FPE considers the knowledge gathered and lessons learned by the
forest resource managers peoples organizations (POs), indigenous peoples organization
(IPOs), forest guards and wardens, and the communities themselves as one of its strategic
assets in improving methodologies, practices and systems toward BCSD.
In the Islands of Polillo, from Quezon province in Luzon, forest conservation has been
integrated in an island-wide environmental code, through the efforts of the Polillo Island
Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI). Forest wardens have also been instituted
through the support of their municipal governments to protect remaining forests and flagship
species. The USAID-FPE project helped PIBCFI expand the scope of their on-ground
implementation, where there was a critical shift in protection efforts from LGU to community
level. This case study contains PIBCFIs efforts in improving initiatives in their local conservation
areas, leading to more concrete policies and programs for sustainability.
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PAGE i Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
TABLE OF CONTENTSACRONYMS ii
BEAUTIFUL ISLAND WITH PLENTY OF FOOD 2
BIODIVERSITY VALUES REVEALED 2
BIODIVERSITY IN PERIL 5
BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANCE RECOGNIZED 7
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TRAILBLAZING 7
MOBILIZING MORE SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION 8
The Pioneering Local Conservation Area 9
Building Local Capacities to Manage LCAs 12
Consolidating and Expanding Conservation Momentum 12
SCALING UP CONSERVATION INITIATIVES 13
Mainstreaming Habitat Restoration in the Conservation Agenda 14
Habitat Restoration as an Opportunity for Organizational Strengthening 17
Demonstrating the Feasibility of Habitat Restoration 19
Habitat Restoration as a Source of Additional Income 20
Biodiversity Summit: The 1stof Its Kind 21
Knowledge Sharing 23
Testimonies from the Field 23
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCES AND WAY FORWARD 25
REFERENCES 29
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ACRONYMS
A & D Alienable & Disposable
AgF Agroforestry
ANR Assisted Natural Regeneration
BBKB Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade
BK Bantay Kalikasan
CENRO Community Environment and Natural Resources Office
CLOA Certificate of Land Ownership Award
DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DENRO Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officer
DOLE Department of Labor and Employment
FFI Flora and Fauna International
FPE Foundation for the Philippine Environment
H/FRes Habitat/Forest Restoration Sites
KBA Key Biodiversity Area
LCA Local Conservation Area
LGC Local Government Code
LGU Local Government Unit
MENRO Municipal Environment and Natural Resources OfficerMOA Memorandum of Agreement
NewCAPP New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project
NGO Non-Government Organization
PABAKA Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association
PAWB Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
PBCFI Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated
PBCP Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme
PESP Polillo Islands Stewardship ProjectPIBCFI Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated
PTFCF Philippines Tropical Forestry Conservation Foundation
SABAKAP Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo
SGP Small Grants Programme
UNDP-GEF United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility
USAID United States Agency for International Development
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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands1
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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands2
BEAUTIFUL ISLAND WITH PLENTY OF FOOD
Mention the word Polillo and many would associate it as a pathway of incoming and outgoing typhoons in the Philippines.
Located in the central east coast of Luzon mainland and facing the Pacific Ocean, is now creating a different reputation of itsown - that is a group of islands where success stories on biodiversity conservation are noteworthy. Arne Jensen, an international
expert on biodiversity monitoring has this to say about the place, Polillo biodiversity management appears to be one of the few
monitoring sunshine events we have in the country, both in terms of sustainability, involvement and conservation action
progress.
The term Polillo is derived from Chinese word Pu li lu, which means a beautiful island with plenty of food. Yes, it is indeed a
lovely island, because it is gifted with bounties of nature, some of which could not be found elsewhere in the world. Polillo is
composed of 27 small islands and islets, the reason why it is commonly called as the Polillo Group of Islands, or also popularly
known as the Polillo Islands. Others call it as the Polillos or Polillo Archipelago.
Five political units divide Polillo Islands in Quezon province. The mainland, the Polillo Island, is the biggest in the archipelago andcomprised of Polillo, Burdeos, and Panukulan municipalities. The second and third largest islands are the insular municipalities of
Patnanungan and Jomalig. Polillo and Patnanungan Islands are characterized by low elevations with gradual slopes and
interconnected river systems. Mount Malulod, about 350 meters above sea level, is the highest point in Polillo Islands, whereas
Jomalig Island is essentially a flat land. The total land area of the Polillos is estimated at 82,617.30 hectares. The location map
of Polillo Islands is presented in Figure 1.
BIODIVERSITY VALUES REVEALED
The Polillo Group of Islands is now getting known as one of the natural wonders of the Philippines, because it harbors diverse
species of flora and fauna that are unique to the Philippines and to this island group, in particular. A number of biological
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PAGE 3 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
researches had been initiated by individuals and institutions who saw the potential of Polillo Islands in terms of biological
resources. Results of these studies have confirmed the importance of the Polillo Group of Islands as one of the priority
conservation areas in the Philippines. One of the major features of Polillo Islands is its remaining forests that are entirely
classified as lowland evergreen forests.
The natural landscapes and seascapes of Polillo Islands are composed of several ecosystems and habitats, from lowland
evergreen and mangrove forests, to aquatic and marine ecosystems, including unique limestone forests and unspoiled
islets and smaller islands (Figure 2). These habitats are refuge to several endemic species of plants and animals.
Several interesting species are named after the place, having been first discovered and recorded in Polillo Islands. These
species include the tiny Polillo forest frog (Platymantis polilloensis)and the colorful Polillo green-
scaled gecko (Pseudogekko smaragdinus). In addition, numerous other sub-species are
Figure 1. Location Map of Polillo Group of Islands
Source:
Gonzalez, J.C.T. and PCBCPI (2005) Preliminary Report on the Fauna Inventory of Priority
Sites in the Polillo Islands, Philippines (Mount Malulod, Macnit and Aluyon Forests)
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Figure 2. The Landscape and Seascape of Polillo Islands (PIBCFI file photo)
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PAGE 5 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
known to exist only in this group of island, such as the Polillo tarictic hornbill (Penelopides manillae subnigra), Blue-naped
parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis hybridus), Blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus freeri), Crested goshawk
(Accipiter trivirgatus castroi), Polillo trogon (Harpactes ardens minor), Polillo greater flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus
grandis),andthe Polillo white-browned Shama (Copsychus luzoniensis parvimaculatus). Some important genera of plants
are Pandanus, Canarium, Grewiaand Gnetum. Figures 3 shows one of the species found in the Polillos.
BIODIVERSITY IN PERIL
Unfortunately some species listed in Polillo Islands are now at the brink of extinction in the wild, since they are already
classified as threatened species under the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN-World Conservation Union. These
species are the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Blue-naped parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis), Luzon
bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica), Red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), Butaan monitor lizard (Varanus olivaceus), Polillo
forest frog (Platymantis polilloensis), Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus), Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis),
Figure.3 Philippine dwarf kingfisher, a threatened spices found in the Polillo Group
of Islands (PIBCFI/Virtito Natural, Jr.)
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Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
The Polillo Islands were thickly forested before, and its mangrove and coral reefs were quite extensive in the early
1900s. However, massive commercial logging between the 1950s and 1980s has reduced the forest cover of the group of
islands. Roughly, only about 19% of the Polillo Islands total land area remains forested today. Much of the forests found in the
area are already fragmented. These forest fragments and their undergrowth are clustered into blocks, particularly found in
northern, central and southern of Polillo mainland and Patnanungan Island.
The Polillo municipality accounts for about 46% of the total forest cover of Polillo Islands, the largest across all
municipalities, followed by Burdeos and Patnanungan, each with almost 18% of the total. Mangroves are situated along the
coastlines of five municipalities and the most extensive is found in Burdeos, due to a number of islands in its jurisdiction. Marshesor wetlands, covered with grassy vegetation, can also be found in Jomalig.
Most formerly forested areas in Polillo Islands
have since been converted into human
settlement and permanent agriculture,
particularly coconut plantations, while
most of the few remaining forests
are secondary, fragmented, and
otherwise disturbed. Almost
54% of the Polillos total land
area is already devoted tococonut plantation and
13% is cultivated with
assorted crops. The
continued attrition
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PAGE 7 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
of these forest fragments, through slash-and-burn cultivation, coupled with unregulated cutting of trees, hunting, and other
unsustainable extraction of forest products, poses further severe threats to the biologically important species and habitats in Polillo
Islands, especially the lowland forest. Residents in Polillo Islands are still relying on the remaining natural forest for timber and fuel
wood requirements. Table 1 presents the different land cover types of Polillo Islands.
The economic activities in Polillo Islands are basically resource-based. Farming and fishing are main sources of income of most
of the residents. Some residents also resort to harvesting of forest products to augment their meager income, especially when
farming and fishing are not feasible, particularly during October, November, January, and February. Freshwater and mangrove
resources also provide additional livelihood. Some mangrove forests are converted to establish nipa plantation for lambanog
production.
Prior to the implementation of some conservation initiatives in the area, the insufficiency of available resources and support, lack
of capacity and technical expertise, and absence of appropriate institutional arrangements to effectively protect and manage the
remaining forests seriously aggravated the situation. Awareness on the biodiversity importance of Polillos was very low then, and
local governments were not also fully engaged in implementing conservation measures.
LAND COVER
TYPESPOLILLO BURDEOS
PANUKU-
LAN
PATNANUN-
GANJOMALIG TOTAL
Clouds 46.7 324.8 24 0 0 395.5
Shadows 31 152.7 29.8 0 0 213.5
Water bodies 0.6 5.4 5.1 0.8 7.6 19.5
Coastal habitats 91.4 216.2 153.4 140.1 106.5 707.6
Mangroves 816.6 1,989.10 1,227.10 994.6 91.2 5,118.60
Marshes 0 0 0 0 144.2 144.2
Grassland/ Bare soil 766.7 641.8 426.5 863.2 2,543.30 5,241.50
Cultivated areas 3,192.90 3,166.60 2,379.50 1,438.80 378.8 10,556.60
Forests 7,384.60 2,845.10 2,075.30 2,837.90 795.6 15,938.50
Coconut
plantations15,933.70 10,939.60 12,715.50 3,439.10 1,253.90 44,281.80
TOTAL 28,264.30 20,281.30 19,036.20 9,714.50 5,321.10 82,617.30
Table 1. Land Cover Types of the Polillo Groups of Islands by Municipality
Source:
De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Polillo,
Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the
Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished
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BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANCE RECOGNIZED
No less than the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
recognized the biodiversity significance of the Polillo Group of Islands. In a priority setting, this island group has been included in
PAWBs List of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of the Philippines. On the other hand, the Haribon Foundation, with Birdlife
International, also included the Polillo Islands as one of the Key Conservation Sites and Endemic Bird Area in the Philippines.
However, because of its isolation from the mainland Luzon, the Polillo Group of Islands seemed to be left out from the attention
Source:
De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Jomalig, Quezon Province,
Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodi-
versity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished
Figure 4. Location Map of Polillo and Panukulan Watershed Reservation (Source: DENR Re-
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PAGE 9 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
Figure 6. The declared Local Conservation Areas (LCAs) within mainland Polillo
Source
Figure 5. Annual Tarictic Festival (Liza Dans/PIBCFI)
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and priority of concerned national government agencies in terms of environment and natural resources management in the past,
in spite the declaration of three sites as supposedly protected areas. The forest reserves declared in Polillo Island are the two
watershed reservations (Figure 4) in Polillo and Panukulan municipalities and the Minasawa Island Game Refuge and Birds
Sanctuary in Burdeos. These three sites have no clear institutional arrangements in place for their effective management.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TRAILBLAZING
The significance and associated threats to the biodiversity of Polillo Islands have prompted the Philippines Biodiversity
Conservation Programme (PBCP), formerly administered by the Flora and Fauna International (FFI) and now by the Philippines
Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI), to launch the Polillo Islands Stewardship Project (PESP). The PESP was
conceived in the late 1990s as a practical approach in implementing wildlife and habitat protection in the area, when wildlife
hunting and trade were rampant. With funding support from the Chester Zoo, the PESP was also designed to increase local
awareness activities, and assist research on key species and habitats.
The initiation of the PESP gained broader interest on the biological worth of the Polillos, and later on attracted the attention ofother local and international researches and conservationists, including a series of expeditions jointly conducted by the University
of the Philippines Los Baos and Oxford University, survey on the distribution and status of the Polillo tarictic hornbill, field studies
on Butaan monitor lizard, long-term monitoring of the Philippine cockatoo and other biological surveys and initiatives.
The PESP mobilized some community volunteers to implement biodiversity monitoring and protection in the municipality of
Polillo. It also carried out numerous conservation awareness activities, using the available scientific data in informing local
governments and communities on how important the Polillo Islands is in biodiversity conservation, especially with the presence of
endemic species in the islands. Highlighting local species in conservation awareness gained the support of stakeholders, which
eventually led to the adaption by the Polillo municipality of the Annual Tarictic Festival (Figure 5).
The implementation of the PESP has led to the development of the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Programme, andeventually the organization of the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI), which was primarily aimed in
instituting a more structured delivery of conservation outcomes in the Polillo Islands. It should be noted that prior to the formation
of PIBCFI in 2003, no single organization was focusing on biodiversity conservation in the Polillos, particularly on terrestrial
ecosystems. The PESP later evolved as the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Protection and Monitoring Project with continuing support
from the Chester Zoo. Figure 6 presents the different conservation initiatives implemented in Polillo Islands.
MOBILIZING MORE SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION
The urgent need to respond to conservation to conservation challenges in Polillo Islands has motivated the PIBCFI, in partnership
with PBCFI, to mobilize broader support to implement conservation projects. One of the key concerns then was the development
of institutional mechanism that would ensure the effective management of biologically important sites in the island group, since
most of these sites were open access. It was by this account that PIBCFI explored alternative management modality that would
provide more responsibility to local governments in responding to conservation issues and concerns.
THE PIONEERING LOCAL CONSERVATION AREA
A major project, entitled Pioneering Community-Based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands, was developed and implemented
in 2005 to 2008, with funding support from the Darwin Initiative, through FFI and PBCFI. The project enabled and facilitated the
implementation of what is now popularly known as the Local Conservation Areas (LCAs).
The LCA concept was coined by the principal author of this paper, who was then providing technical assistance in the
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Butaan Research Project with Dr.
Daniel Bennett Original research on
Grays monitor (Varanus olivaceous) in
Sibulan Watershed in Polillo Island,
especially its role in the survival anddispersal of Pandanus, Canarium, Grewia
and Gnetum seeds (1999-2009)
Date Started
Polillo Ecology
Stewardship Project
funded by North of
England ZoologicalSociety, Chester Zoo
(1998-2008)
Pioneering
Community Based
Conservations Sites
in the Polillo Islands
Project funded by
Darwin Initiatives
(2005-2008)
Supported by Darwin
Initiative in collaboration
with Flora and Fauna
International
PESP Phase 2:
Polillo Islands
Biodiversity
Conservation and
Monitoring
Programme
with funding support
from the North of
England Zoological
Society (NEZS)
Oxford-UPLB
Research within the
Polillo Group of
Islands gives
sparked furtherinterest on
biodiversity of the
Polillo Group of
Islands
Figure 6. Timeline on projects implemented
by PIBCFI since 2003
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
Pior to 2003 2005 2008
Aquatic Surve
Burdeos Mun
North of England
Society, Cheste
2008)
Philippine Cockatoo
Monitoring with Katala
Foundation, Inc (2005 to present)
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Enhancing
Community
Participation in
Habitat Protection
and Restoration in
the Polillo Group of
Islands
(ECPHPRPGI)
Project with funding
support from Global
Environment Facility-
Small Grants
Programme-United
Nations Development
Programme (GEF-SGP-
UNDP)
Integrated Support
for the Lowland
Forest
Conservation
(ISLAND) Project
funded by PhilippineTropical Forest
Conservation
Foundation (2008-
2009)
New Conservation
Areas in the
Philippines funded by
United Nations
DevelopmentProgramme and Global
Environmental Facility in
cooperation with
Department of
Environmental and
Natural Resources
(2010-2012)
Up-Scaling Forest
Restoration Efforts
in Key Biodiversity
Areas with support from
the United States Agency
for International
Development (USAID)
and the Foundation for
the Philippine
Environment (FPE)
2009 2010 2012 2012
n Polillo and
alities with
ological
o (2006-
Polillo Islands Biodiversity
Surveys with UPLB Museum of
Natural History (2006-2008)
Coral Reef Resource
Assessment and
Management
Recommendations, Polillo
Islands, Philippines with CoralCay Conservation (2006)
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PAGE 13 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
implementation of the Darwin supported project, as an
alternative scheme to nationally-driven management system
of natural resources. It should be noted that while three sites
in Polillo Island have been nationally declared as reservations,
they still lack effective protection measures from destructive
activities.
The opportunity accorded by the Local Government Code
(LGC) had been maximized by the project to facilitate in
setting up the first ever network of LCAs, identified and
agreed in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders and
managed by concerned local governments. This project has
facilitated the declaration of 10 separate LCAs, totaling about
7,000 hectares (Figure 7).
The LCA scheme was formally initiated in November 2007
via the concurrent issuance of local government ordinances
by all three municipalities in the mainland Polillo. The
numerous studies conducted in the Polillos became the basis
in identifying potential sites to be declared as LCAs. The
declaration of these sites followed a consultative process
involving affected communities. The LCA Ordinances issued
by the three municipalities in Polillo Island have been affirmed
and approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon
province. Figure 8 presents the procedures implemented in
the declaration of LCAs.
The major contribution of LCA was the development of an
innovative and far more localized system of natural resources
management. The LCA offers more ownership to local
stakeholders and thus increases the prospects of effective
enactments of agreed conservation management priorities.
The establishment of LCAs provided a likely longer-term
sustainability of these interventions, through key funding
mechanisms and other provisions of the covering municipal
government ordinances, specifically tailored to address
priority concerns identified and agreed during prior
consultative processes. The salient features of the LCA
included the following:
Delineation of sites declared as LCAs with specific
technical descriptions;
Acceptance and incorporation of any prior right
Figure 7. The 10 declared LCAs within mainland Polillo
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(i.e. areas within LCAs covered by existing legal
private land titles, stewardship contracts and other
valid and legitimate resource use rights), while
nonetheless also requiring that all activities in these
areas conform to the management plan preparedfor each site through creating formal partnership
agreements with prior rights holders designed to
enable the cooperative management and
protection of the tenured areas;
Formal establishment of LCA Management Council
in each municipality to serve as the requisite (but
previously non-existent) local management
authority; each of which councils are co-chaired by
the municipal mayor and DENR officer, but must
also include council member representatives fromall relevant local NGOs and POs;
Development and implementation of detailed
management plan for each declared LCA and
which also define any necessary management
zones, like the strict protection or core areas any
other limited use areas per essential for local
community livelihood requirements and land tenure
agreements;
Definition of prohibited activities and corresponding
penalties and policing mechanisms; and
Establishment of relevant financing mechanisms,
like annual LGU budgetary allocations.
Even more importantly, and almost certainly uniquely in the
Philippine context, the identification and subsequent
declaration of these LCAs was firmly centered on both region-
wide and site-based biodiversity surveys, led by the most
experienced local field research biologists. The new LCA
network was not only established on the basis of sound
scientific criteria, but was also designed to optimize local
social acceptability and stakeholder ownership.
The declaration of LCAs also resulted in the rapidly expanding
number of Bantay Kalikasan members who were actively
engaged and trained for forest protection, restoration, and
biodiversity monitoring in the three municipalities. All of these
operations were not only fully supported by the three LGUs,
but also supported by other counterpart funds raised by
PBCFI and PIBCFI from various institutions.
BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITIES TO
MANAGE LCAS
The Philippine Tropical Forestry Conservation Foundation-
supported Integrated Support for the Lowland Forest
Conservation (ISLAND Project) has further enhanced
conservation initiatives in the Polillos. Through this project,
which was implemented from October 2008 to December
2009, some provisions of the ordinances declaring the LCAs
were implemented, especially the formation and capacity
building of each LCA Management Council in the
municipalities of Polillo, Burdeos, and Panukulan.
The ISLAND Project further supported the initial operations of
the Management Councils, including the formulation of their
manual of operations and strategic action plans. Moreover,
the PTFCF-funded project reached out to the members of the
Bantay Kalikasan and has assisted them to be organized in
the three mainland municipalities. These BK organizations are
the Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan in Polillo (SABAKAP),
Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB) and Panukulan
Bantay Kalikasan (PABAKA).
CONSOLIDATING AND EXPANDING
CONSERVATION MOMENTUM
The momentum achieved in biodiversity conservation in Polillo
Islands has further attracted the attention of other institutions.
In 2010, the Polillo Group of Islands has been identified as
one of the pilot sites for the implementation of the project
known as the Expanding and Diversifying the National System
of Terrestrial Protected Areas in the Philippines Project of the
DENR, through the PAWB, with funding support from theUnited Nations Development Programme Global
Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF). The project, which was
later on renamed as the New Conservation in the Philippines
Project (NewCAPP), was designed to explore various
modalities in managing the different KBAs of the country.
One of the most important contributions of the NewCAPP was
the establishment of conservation landmarks through the
boundary delineation of the declared LCAs in the Polillo
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PAGE 15 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
mainland and the expansion of three additional LCAs in the municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig. The project further
enhanced the management capacities of LGUs in ensuring the management sustainability of LCAs, while providing support to
the institutionalization of community-based biodiversity protection and monitoring.
The NewCAPP has developed and implemented another pioneering effort in the Polillos, with the introduction of Evidenced-
Based Biodiversity Monitoring. This monitoring scheme involves local communities who are trained to establish monitoringstations and to implement protection activities in the different LCAs. Figure 9 shows the different steps being undertaken by the
BKs in monitoring destructive forest activities in Polillo Islands.
Another complimentary effort was introduced in 2012, through the Enhancing Community Participation in Habitat Protection and
Restoration in the Polillo Group of Islands Project, with support from the UNDP-GEF Small Grant Programme. The project
enabled the expansion of community-based biodiversity protection system in Patnanungan and Jomalig. To date, there are more
than 50 volunteers in the two municipalities and are already active in implementing forest protection measures. The three Bantay
Kalikasan groups in Polillo mainland have moved forward to become Peoples Organizations with complete set of officers and
operational systems and procedures. These BK members were trained and deputized as Environment and Natural Resources
Officers (ENROs) of the DENR.
Figure 8. Process declaration of Local Conservation Areas (LCAS)
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To ensure coordination of the different community volunteers from five municipalities, the UNDP-GEF-SGP project facilitated the
formation of an island-wide coordinating body of the Bantay Kalikasan. This coordinating body ensures that activities of the BKs
are within the scope of authority provided with them as DENROs. The operations of these BK groups are also supported by local
governments, through provision of modest monthly honorarium and operational funds. The BKs are conducting regular
monitoring of the different declared LCAs.
SCALING UP CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
The conservation initiatives in the Polillo Islands have scaled up with the introduction of a project that would implement direct
forest and habitat restoration, while providing additional income to local communities. One of the key concerns in the Polillos is
the fragmentation of the remaining forest. In addition, agricultural development in the area is intensive and therefore it
necessitates the demonstration of technologies that would balance agriculture and forestry or popularly known as agro-forestry.
With funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Foundation for the
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PAGE 17 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
Philippine Environment (FPE), PIBCFI has againembarked in a milestone that further scaled up
conservation initiatives in the Polillo Group of Islands.
MAINSTREAMING HABITAT
RESTORATION IN THE
CONSERVATION AGENDA
The main objective of the Up-Scaling Forest
Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas is the
establishment of forest and habitatrestoration, and PIBCFI
mainstreamed this activity to
the over-all conservation
agenda in the Polillo Group of
Islands, as presented in the
H a b i t a t R e s t o r a t i o n
Framework (Figure 11).
It should be noted that the
establishment of LCAs in
Polillo Island served as themain backdraft of all other
conservation efforts. Aside
from protecting the remaining
habitats and species, there is also a need
to rehabilitate the denuded portions of the declared
LCAs. Therefore,
it necessitates the
fo rma t ion o f
groups that will
ensure the long-
term protection
and restoration of
forest habitats in
the area.
The di f ferent
Bantay Kalikasan
groups have been
mobilized for this
purpose. USAID-FPE
project provided the necessary capacity building, not
Reporting
Monitoring
Documentation
Figure 9 Steps undertaken by the BKs in monitoring
destructive forest activities in Polillo Islands (Alex P.
Acuna/Virtito Natural, Jr., PIBCFI)
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only on technical aspects, but including the management and
financial considerations for habitat restoration. During the
training on habitat restoration (Figure 10), the BKs prepared
their action plan and developed criteria for the selection of
cooperators for the establishment of restoration sites.
The project has adopted two major approaches in the
implementation of the habitat restoration, and these are the
Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and agro-forestry
technologies. The ANR was the preferred approach in habitat
restoration since most of the sites intended for rehabilitation
were already secondary growth and sparsely vegetated. On the
other hand, agro-forestry was designed to demonstrate the
feasibility of combining both forestry and agriculture in upland
development.
To implement the agro-forestry component of the project,
PIBCFI, in consultation with BK groups, came out with sets of
criteria for the selection of farmer-cooperators. The farmer-
cooperators should have valid land tenure over the area they
actually cultivate, the first criterion identified by the project. It
should be noted that some portions of the declared LCAs are
covered with Certificate of Stewardship Contracts (CSCs) under
the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) of the DENR,
which was devolved to the provincial government.
The criterion on land tenure is very essential so that the farmer-
cooperators will have ownership of the established agro-forestry
and they would be eligible for sustainable harvesting. The two
other criteria in agro-forestry development are the willingness of
farmer-cooperators to engage in the project and must belong
to the low-income bracket One of the purposes of the project
was also to augment the income of farmer-cooperators.
HABITAT RESTORATION AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR
ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING
There are three established Bantay Kalikasan organizations in the Polillo mainland and these are the Samahan ng Bantay
Kalikasan ng Polillo, Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade and Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA). At the end of
2012, there are 60 BKs in mainland Polillo, 45 of them have been deputized as Deputy Environment and Natural Resource
Officers by the DENR.
The BK groups are spread out in the 23 barangays where the different LCAs are located. They are monitoring the more than
7,000 hectares of lowland dipterocarp forest. Additional 50 BKs for the neighboring municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig
are also applying as DENROs. The USAID-FPE Project has provided the necessary equipment and materials to support the
operations of the Bantay Kalikasan members.
Establishment of Local Conservation Area
Formation of Bantay Kalikasan Association
Registration as a Peoples Organization
Capacity building on Habitat Restoration Establishment
(FRes)
Selection process for farmer cooperators
Selection of Habitat/
Forest Restoration Sites (FRes)
Figure 10. The Habitat Restoration Framework
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The habitat restoration further provided sense of organizational
belonging to each of the BK association in the three
municipalities of Polillo mainland. The project has provided
opportunities to BK members in collective planning,
implementation and monitoring of the different activities,
especially so that habitat restoration has two major components Assisted Natural Regeneration and Agro-Forestry.
To ensure the effective implementation of the habitat
restoration, the project provided relevant trainings to the
members of the BK. It should be noted that these trainings did
not only provide technical skills on habitat restoration but also
included aspects related to project management. During the
training, each of the BK groups prepared an action plan on
how to deliver the required outputs and developed operational
systems in project management, including proper financial
administration. The three BK groups in the Polillo mainland arealready recognized by local government units.
DEMONSTRATING THE FEASIBILITY
OF HABITAT RESTORATION
The implementation of this project has demonstrated a
systematic approach in habitat restoration using ANR and agro-
forestry technologies. It should be noted that prior to this
project, tree planting activities have been carried out in different
areas of Polillo Islands, but they were implemented sporadicallyand no long-term sustainability mechanisms were in place,
resulting to the low survival of planted trees.
The different BK associations were mobilized to implement the
habitat restoration of the USAID-FPE Project. The project
implementation commenced with the development of habitat
restoration action plan by each BK group in Polillo mainland.
One of the innovative approaches implemented by the project
was the conduct of suitability assessment in targeted areas for
ANR. Sites selected for this purpose were abandoned kaingins,denuded portions of watersheds and sparsely vegetated areas.
The suitability assessment was first carried out to determine the
species requirements of selected sites. This is to ensure that
the species planted in habitat restoration sites are those thriving
in the area.
The species selection was done through inventory of available
species in the targeted site and its adjacent areas. On the
process of species inventory, the BK groups also identified
sources of planting materials. Another component of suitability
assessment was the selection of forest nursery site where water
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source is readily available. Species selection for habitat
restoration did consider a variety of species to be
planted, including food plants for wildlife.
List of available species was prepared by each BK
association. The main idea of habitat restoration under
this project in Polillo is to bring back what the forestlooked like before in selected sites. Each BK group in
three municipalities of Polillo Island established forest
trees nursery where growth chambers (Figure 11) for
seedlings were also constructed. Only native and
indigenous tree species were produced for ANR.
Each BK association further constructed a bunk house
adjacent to their forest trees nursery, which not only
helps them in habitat restoration activities but also serves
as venue for organizational activities such as trainings and
meetings. The local government unit of Polillo, Burdeosand Panukulan provided a counterpart fund for the
construction of these bunk houses.
By the end of 2012, BK members in the Polillo mainland
municipalities were able to establish the pioneering ANR
for a total area of 36 hectares, exceeding the target 30
hectares. Thirteen farmer-cooperators were also selected
to implement agro-forestry and they were able to
establish a total of 31 hectares of demonstration sites.
The farmer-cooperators have been trained and assistedby BK members in the establishment of agro-forestry
sites. Each cooperator has executed a partnership
agreement with PIBCFI and the concerned BK
association for the establishment, maintenance and
monitoring of agro-forestry demonstration sites.
HABITAT RESTORATION AS A
SOURCE OF ADDITIONAL
INCOME
The USAID-FPE Project further demonstrated that habitat
restoration is indeed a potential source of additional
income for communities. Although the project only
covered 60 hectares, it already showed its potential of
providing direct economic benefits to project participants.
It can only be assumed that more individuals will be given
additional incentives if the area covered by the project
shall be extended.
A total of 46 Bantay Kalikasan members have beenFigure.11 Growth chambers constructed to house indigenous tree species as
nting materials for the habitat restoration establishments (Rosalie Pasibe/ FPE)
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PAGE 21 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
involved in production of planting materials and establishment of habitat restoration sites. Their baseline income for the month
ranges from Php 500, being the lowest, to Php 5,000, as the highest (Table 2 and Figure 12). These BKs are volunteers who
receive monthly honorarium of Php 150 to Php 500 from the local governments.
Majority of Bantay Kalikasan (BK) members, with a total of 26 individuals, have a monthly income ranging from Php 2,300.00 to
Php 3,199.00, accounting to 57% of the total participating BKs, while seven BK members fall between the income ranges of
Php 500.00 to Php 1,399.00. Additional
seven participating BKs have a monthly
income from Php 1,400.00 to Php
2,299.00 and four others have monthly
income from Php 3,200 to Php 4,299.00.Only two BKs have a monthly income from
Php 4,300.00 to Php 5,198.00.
Following the establishment of habitat
restoration activities, there was a noticeable
increased income among 46 participating
BKs, as shown in Table 3 and Figure 22
Monthly income in Php Frequency
500.00-1,399.00 7
1400.00-2,299.00 7
2,300.00-3,199.00 26
3,200.00-4,299.00 4
4,300.00-5,198.00 2
Total 46
% Increase 28-151 152-275 276-399 400-523 524-647 648-771
Number of BK7 20 4 4 0 1
Percentage 19.44% 55.56% 11.11% 11.11% 0.00% 2.78%
Source: Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated. (2012). Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key
Biodiversity Areas Project Fourth Quarter Report. Unpublished
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Majority of BKs have increase of 152-275% on monthly income. On the average, each BK has an income increase of 183%.
BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT: THE 1ST
OF ITS KIND
One significant event that occurred during the implementation of the USAID-FPE project was the holding of the 1 st Polillo Group
of Islands Biodiversity Summit. The affair maybe considered as one historic event in Polillo Islands since it was the first time that
representatives of key stakeholders convened to discuss biodiversity initiatives, challenges and directions. The delegations
comprised of representatives from LGUs, NGOs, POs and concerned national agencies. Leading the participants to the
biodiversity summit were none other than the local chief executives of the five municipalities municipalities of Polillo Group of
Islands.
The summit provided a venue for the different stakeholders to discuss challenges and the associated recommendations (Table 4)
on biodiversity for each of the municipality. During the event, participants came up with a mutually agreed framework of
cooperation and coordination in addressing biodiversity issues and concerns. In particular, the summit was able to achieve the
following: (a) Presented the biodiversity importance of the Polillo Group of Islands as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA); (b) Identifiedissues and concerns that needs to be addressed in terms of biodiversity conservation and management; (c) Provided a venue for
the sharing of various conservation strategies, models, experiences, and lessons learned within the Polillo Group of Islands; (d)
Discussed opportunity for funding on conservation initiatives within the PGI; and (e) Drafted the Polillo Group of Islands
Biodiversity Conservation Strategic Action Plan (PGIBCSAP). Another significant achievement of the summit was the agreement to
organize the Polillo Group of Islands Environment and Natural Resources Management Council, which will bind together the five
LGUs and other relevant stakeholders in one management body primarily to focus on the biodiversity conservation of this group
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PAGE 23 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/
COMMITMENTS
DAY 1
1. Insufficient IRA Recognition of assistance from the NGO/PO partners of
LGUs
LGUs to strategize on having additional income as
reinforcement to IRA
2. Priority on inclusion and use of ENR
data in preparation of CLUP
Concentration of most LGUs
development plans is in infrastructure
projects
Comprehensive water use plan (i.e.
Sanctuaries)
Pursuance of environmental advocacy agenda
Prioritize discussion to include ENR data in AIPs of
LGUs
LGUs should do analysis projection on resource use for
the next years (secure resources: CLUP to CDP to AIP)
3. Strategy of CLUP preparation Include all sectors (participatory)
LGUs should not only focus on preparing CLUPs for A &
D lands but also in Public Lands (to include ENR side)
Look at HLURBs guidelines (inclusion of hazard zones
in the map)
Include ancestral domains
Practice riparian rights
Use of 3-D map data and information Prioritize protection and conservation of ENR
Include in the 3D map location of major fish sanctuaries
(mangroves, seaweeds, corals)
Establish zoning of non-negotiable areas withcorresponding ordinance about its use (alignments of
land uses in zoning)
Have data on biodiversity index and also include this in
CLUP preparation
With huge potential on tourism, LGUs to also put
priority on resolving property rights issues through
zoning
Conflicting interests of Philippine
environmental laws and policies i.e. E.O.
79
LGUs to submit request for amendment regarding the
new mining law to the Office of the President
LGUs can look and review PD 1586 (Environmental
Impact Statement process) and LGU Code (right and
social responsibility of LGUs to protect public welfare)
Non-negotiable areas: Five mayors can have a unified
ordinance, NGOs support LGU efforts, and Provincial
Government can issue an ordinance declaring non-
negotiable areas
A MOA between LGUs and DENR re non-negotiable
areas can also be executed
Lack of belief of individuals in proposed
watershed despite LCA ordinance
Prepare map of the watershed and attach this to LGUs
ordinance regarding LCAs
On volume of ground water and its
capacity to supply
PGI has no water resources assessment yet. The results
of the assessment should be also included in the CLUP.
Table 4. Issues and recommendations during the summits planning workshop
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ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/ COMMITMENTS
DAY 1 contiunation
Panukulan, Polillo, and Burdeos to
prepare an Integrated CLUP
To date, there is no existing mechanism to do integrated
CLUP. Summit hopes to be the vehicle for everybody to dis-cuss and identify appropriate mechanism
On legal battles regarding boundary
dispute of LGUs
On-going negotiations among concerned barangays/
municipalities
Abuses on establishment of salvage
zones (conflicting with PD 1067 Wa-
ter Code)
LGUs to issue resolution to DENR for LGU to have participa-
tion in issuance of fishpond lease agreement (FLA)
Coastal resource management plans be also included in CLUP
Declaration of municipalities to unite and preparation of
guidelines how to prepare CLUP
DENR and LGU should jointly prepare FLUP
With FLUP, LGUs should also have good maps particularly
land classification, boundary, and tenure maps
DAY 2
On informal settler families in salvage
zones
Mandate to relocate is in LGU but DENR can assist in reloca-
tion i.e. ISFs in timberland, DENR can identify safe resettle-
ment areas (outside geo-hazard areas for resettlement)
National Anti-poverty Commission conducted a meeting to
discuss guidelines of informal settler families in coastal areas
Correction of the cadastral survey
done before by DENR resulting to con-
flicting boundaries of barangays and
municipalities
The authority to resolve conflicts on boundaries is no longer
within DENRs jurisdiction as it has been devolved to LGUs
LGU can resolve the problem by:
Conduct of proper research on the boundary mark-
ers of area/lot involved
Proclamation of barangay boundary of the area
Attach technical description in the proclamation
If technical descriptions are still conflicting, the barangay/
municipal council can settle the issue through agreement on
the boundaries.
If still unsettled, DENR will just indicate in the cadastral survey
that the subject area is a conflict area (individual survey will
still push through)
Land surveys done before can also be applied by concernedcitizen for nullification.
Correction surveys can also be applied for by concerned citi-
zens
RTD Hernandez committed to relay to RTD of Lands in DENR
IV-A the intention to follow-up the municipals resolution re-
garding the conflicting barangay boundaries in Panukulan,
Quezon
Reclassification of timberland is not allowed in virtue of the
Agrarian Reform Law not unless it has Congressional approval
Regarding the case of Burdeos and Panukulan, RTD Hernan-
dez accepted the suggestion that Mayors of the two munici-palities hold the dialogue re conflicting municipal boundaries
in DENR Region IV-A office.
Su estion for Provincial Governor to talk with Ma ors and
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of island.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
There have been numerous biodiversity studies conducted in the Polillo Islands and this USAID-FPE project has facilitated the
collation of these studies to establish a systematic database and facilitate easy retrieval of these materials for purposes of
knowledge sharing. The PIBCFI website (www.pibcfi.org) where biodiversity information is readily available, is now online.
Through the USAID-FPE project, a digital 3D map was also produced, featuring the different bio-physical features of the Polillo
Group of Islands. To assist the LGUs in updating their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), the project also made possible the
ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/ COMMITMENTS
DAY 2 continuation
On status of Integrated Social Forestry
(ISF) holders
If application for renewal is not approved by DENR, products
in the area should be paid by the government to the farmer
On National Greening Program (NGP)
issue
Provincial govt representative committed to follow-up status
of payment (for resolution) for IPs involved in NGP
On titling of mangrove areas Not allowed since it is also classified as timberland
Can be applied for CBFM and establish aqua-silviculture for
livelihood
On decision to push through for LCA
or PA status in areas in Polillo
Group of Islands
Decision will depend on the Local Chief Executives and the
Municipal Council
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collation of different studies on the biodiversity status per municipality of the Polillo
Islands.
TESTIMONIES FROM THE FIELD
From Ordinary Folk to Community Leader
I was just an ordinary folk before and I do not have any position in our barangay. I
worked as a coconut farmer or magkokopra and also helped in the transport of
coconut products using a horse. The income Im receiving during that time was justenough to support my family. Life was hard, but I persevered so that I can send my children to school.
Then I got involved in biodiversity conservation and protection through PIBCFI with the help of Lea-Jim Villanueva and our
barangay officials in Languyin. Way back in 2008, our Barangay Captain, Isarme Acuavera, talked to me about appointing me
as a Bantay Kalikasan in our place.
As a BK, I am conducting information and education campaigns about the different environmental laws, like P.D. 705 or the
Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, which I learned from the trainings and seminars I attended from PIBCFI and other
organizations working on biodiversity conservation and protection. I also explain to some people the importance of our wildlife
species and their habitat.
As chairman of Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo, it is my duty to lead activities related to biodiversity conservation and
protection in the municipality of Polillo, Quezon. Also, as president of the newly-formed Bantay Kalikasan Coordinating Body for
Polillo Group of Islands, it is my duty to coordinate with the four other chairman of Bantay Kalikasan in the municipalities of
Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Jomalig about the different issues and concerns related to the environment.
I grew up with some people who benefited from unsustainable extraction of our natural resources, and that is the reason why I
know how important our environment is. Whenever I encounter a resident who does an illegal activity, I directly coordinate with
our barangay and other institutions, like PIBCFI and DENR so that they will be enlightened about the importance of our natural
resources.
Way back when I was not yet a Bantay Kalikasan, I usually disregard these things, but because of my experiences and learning, Irealized that what would happen to the coming generations if there are no concerned people who will help in the conservation
and protection of our environment.
In my opinion, there is a huge change after Bantay Kalikasans were appointed in every barangay. Before, locals just extract
forest products anytime because they were not informed of our regulations. By the time we have Bantay Kalikasan volunteers,
several locals started to stop doing illegal activities and some of them helped in the advocacy to protect and conserve our
natural resources. I can really say that the Bantay Kalikasanvolunteers have been very effective.
Way back when I was not yet a Bantay Kalikasan, I usually
disregard these things, but because of my experiences and learning,
I think about what would happen to the coming generations if there
are no concerned people who will help in the conservation and
protection of our environment.
Norberto BriasChairman, Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo
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D e l i v e r i n g
C o n s e r v a t i o n
Messages
Before I became a BK
member, I was just a rice and
coconut f a rmer , who
sometimes work with other
farmers to get additional
i ncome. I a l so ga ined
additional income by fishing
in nearby waters in our
village. I got engaged in biodiversity conservation when I
became a member of Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association
(PABAKA). Through the association, I learned about the
different projects, like forest restoration and agroforestry
system, which we are currently doing with assistance from
PIBCFI , FPE and USAID.
As a volunteer Bantay Kalikasan, I help in sharing information
about the different environmental laws. I also teach my family
for them to become a role model and also share to other
people the importance of our wildlife species and their habitat. I
attended trainings and seminars organized by PIBCFI and other
institutions and organizations to acquire additional information
about biodiversity protection and conservation.
It is really a great opportunity to be involved in the association
because I really felt and knew that we should really give
importance to our environment and we should utilize it in the
right way for the next generations to also benefit andexperience the rich biodiversity we have. Also, I felt good
working with different people in conserving our resources. As a
father, I am also very happy to impart with my family the
importance of our environment and its need for protection and
conservation. I also noticed that because of the different
environmental projects, people easily got aware about the
importance of our environment.
The Transformation of a Logger
Im a farmer who was already serving as a Bantay Gubat or
Bantay Kalikasanwhen PIBCFI came. There was a time when
PIBCFI called for a meeting in our barangaywhere there had
been presentations and discussions on the importance of
wildlife species and their habitat. I was also part of the survey
team, headed by Mr. JC Gonzales on their study about the
different wildlife species of Polillo Islands. Because of the
projects of Sir JC Gonzales, I was appointed as Bantay Gubatin our barangayand couldnt object because I cared about our
environment. Being involved before with logging companies, I
got familiar with the different species of trees and fauna in my
municipality as well as some areas in Polillo Group of Islands.
As a BK volunteer I attended the trainings and seminars
organized or co-organized by PIBCFI and other organizations
so that Ill be able to gain additional knowledge on biodiversity.
It is also my duty to monitor the illegal activities in the forest
and submit a report about it. Because of our presence, wildlife
hunters in the area had decreased.. I am focusing in observingillegal activities, especially on wildlife hunting and poaching.
Whenever I encounter an offender, I talk to him or her and
explain about the importance of our wildlife species and that
the fact that they should be protected instead of being harmed
or hunted or made as a food or pet. I also
see to it that the species is released back
into the wild. Because of the different
efforts, there had been lots of changes in
the group of islands. The widespread
wildlife hunting and poaching and illegal
cutting/logging which are being transportedin mainland Luzon is already lessen. Also,
slash and burn practices have been
controlled because of the continuous
monitoring and patrolling. Im grateful to
PIBCFI for their concern and support to us
Bantay Kalikasanvolunteers.
It is also my duty to monitor the illegal activities in the forest and submit a report
about it. Because of our presence, wildlife hunters in the area have decreased.
Dionesio Leynes,
Chairman, Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB)
I attended trainings and seminars organized by PIBCFI and other
institutions and organizations to acquire additional information
about the protection and conservation of our biodiversity.
By: Diony Boragay
Chairman, Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA)
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LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCES
AND WAY FORWARD
A decade of conservation work in the Polillo Group of Island
has offered numerous insights and lessons learned that are
worth highlighting as basis in future actions and directions.
While the task of truly conserving the biodiversity of this group
of islands is still far from over, some indicators are already
available to claim that past and current conservation efforts
are making good progress.
Sound scientific basis is one of the key elements in
developing and implementing appropriate and effective site-
focused conservation initiatives. Biological studies conducted
by seasoned and known biologists and conservationists
became the effective ammunitions in ensuring the inclusion of
Polillo Islands as a priority and important biodiversity
conservation area in the Philippines. Results of these studies
were further utilized in developing long-term conservation
agenda for the group of island.
Translating technical information to popular forms of
communication materials is important in enhancing the
awareness of communities, local governments and other local
stakeholders on biodiversity conservation. Highlighting speciesthat are endemic to the locality created a sense of pride
among the residents of Polillo Islands. Emphasizing the
uniqueness of the landscapes and seascapes of the area is
another factor that contributed to the high awareness of locals
on biodiversity conservation.
Formation of a customized organization to ensure the
implementation of conservation agenda is essential. This is
particularly true in Polillo Islands where initial efforts focused
on implementing a project to address issues on wildlife
hunting and trading and forest degradation. However, since
there was a need to develop more comprehensive and
structured conservation measures, PIBCFI was formed and is
now at the forefront of working with LGUs and other
stakeholders in implementing biodiversity projects. PIBCFI,
locally known as biodiversity, is already a recognized
institution when it comes to biodiversity conservation in the
Polillo Group of Islands. Prior to the formation of PIBCFI, no
single organization was primarily catering on biodiversity
conservation in the area.
The development and execution of conservation projects
should not be driven by funding availability, but must be
dictated by biodiversity requirements and needs and be
implemented by phases. This is clearly illustrated in the various
stages of project development and implementation in Polillo
Islands. Conservation initiatives started with baseline scenario
building and followed by establishment of conservation sites,
development of institutional mechanisms for the managementof biologically important sites and capacity building.
Bantay Kalikasan initiative
with the support from the
Local Government Units
and other stakeholders for
effective community
based forest restoration
and protection has beenproven helpful and
effective.
Alex Acua
Program Officer for Habitat
Restoration & Protection, PIBCFI
Making A Difference in Conservation
Bantay Kalikasan contributed a lot of changes in the mainlandmunicipalities of Polillo in conserving and protecting its fauna
and flora since the time they were organized. For instance,
the Polillo tarictic hornbill, as well as the different avian and
wildlife species, are now protected from the threats and
extinction as they can still be found in the forest. They cannot
be easily seen by locals before, probably driven away from
local settlements sensing the threat from the community,
however, now, they can be easily seen even in areas where
there are communities present.
The forest destruction caused by kainginfarming or slash andburn practice and other illegal activities is lessened due to the
effective information, education and communication
campaigns and the monitoring and patrolling activities
conducted by the Bantay Kalikasan volunteers.
The Bantay Kalikasan initiative, with the support from the
Local Government Units and other stakeholders for effective
community based forest restoration and protection, has been
proven helpful and effective. In the past, exotic species are
used as planting materials however, starting with the
advocacy lead by PIBCFI and the Bantay Kalikasan groups,the use of indigenous tree species had been prioritized. There
was even an incident when a local farmer signified his desire
to clear and cut the mahogany trees from their coconut
plantation due to possible allelopathiceffect it will cause.
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PAGE 29 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands
Conservation initiatives further scaled up with the
implementation of direct and on-site conservation actions,
which are demonstrated in biodiversity protection and
monitoring and habitat restoration.
Providing opportunities to local authorities in managing their
natural resources is essential if we want to advance our
conservation efforts. This is very important, especially in an
island ecosystem where access to concerned national agencies
is quite difficult. It should be noted that communities in isolated
and far-flung areas are looking to local government as the
central and focal point in governance and therefore, LGUs
should be capacitated and empowered in natural resources
management by exploring and invoking the provisions of the
Philippines Local Government Code. The declaration of Local
Conservation Areas by LGUs in Polillo Islands provides exampleon how LGUs would be able to actively participate in natural
resources management. LGUs in this group of islands have
already passed numerous resolutions and ordinances and
implemented projects on conservation.
Support from national and international institutions, both from
government and nongovernment institutions, is crucial in laying
down the foundation in conservation work and in ensuring long
-term conservation outcomes. For instance, conservation
measures were implemented because of the support provided
to PIBCFI by DENR, Chester Zoo, UNDP-GEF, FPE, PTFCF,
Darwin Initiatives, FFI and PBCFI. Because of these support
mechanisms, gaps on locally available resources were filled in.
However, since these were time-bounded projects, it is
necessary to ensure sustainability strategies.
One of the desirable facts in sustainability was the
mainstreaming of conservation initiatives to the program thrusts
of local governments. In all these funding supports, local
governments were providing counterpart fund and other
resources, including yearly allocation of budget for
conservation. Delivering excellent project results also capture
additional funding support.
Local governments can provide institutional mechanisms and
arrangement in the management of biologically important sites,
but the fact remains that local communities are the direct
agents of conservation. For communities to be engaged, it
does not follow that they should be first organized as a
Peoples Organization. In fact, the formation of PO should
come when communities felt the need of it and circumstances
are already favorable for such an action.
In Polillo Islands, individual volunteers started to participate in
conservation after they internalized the biodiversity importance
of their localities. The primary motivation was for them to help
protect the environment without expecting any return.
However, the initiatives of these volunteers (Bantay Kaalikasan)
captured the attention of local governments and they provided
the BKs with modest honorarium and operational funds. Since
they were already engaged in forest protection, the DENR
clothed these volunteers with authority as Deputized
Environment and Natural Resources Officers. These individual
volunteers realized that they need to coordinate and
consolidate their efforts to become more effective in
biodiversity protection and monitoring and they decided to form
an association. To date, BK organizations are already establish
and operational in each municipality covering the Polillo Group
of Islands.
The recognition provided by the DENR and the support
extended by LGUs provided authority and legitimacy to the
existence and operations of the different BK associations. They
are also earning the respect of the communities where they are
actively operating. The presence of BKs in the different
barangays deters the commission of destructive forest
activities. These positive outcomes to BKs become their
inspiration to continue working for biodiversity conservation and
maintain the credibility they have already established.
Habitat restoration is an example of a conservation initiative thatprovides economic benefits to communities. For instance, the
implementation of agro-forestry provides immediate cash crops
and long-term crops, such as coffee and trees intended for
production. It showcased that agricultural development can go
along with forest restoration. The establishment of ANR
augmented the income of participating BKs, through provision
of labor in the production of planting materials and
establishment, maintenance and monitoring of habitat
restoration sites. It can only be assumed that more benefits
and a larger number of communities may be able to avail
benefits once a much wider area shall be devoted to habitat
restoration.
The experience in Polillo Islands provides an example on
community-LGU partnership in biodiversity conservation.
However, it is also important that credible individuals and
institutions are providing technical assistance to make this
partnership operational. PIBCFI is currently populated with
committed local staff who vie